Essential Install | Case Study : Imagine This
The aim was to create a cinema that delivered top performance in a luxurious setting
The GUIs were all custom made
their output . The rear sound array consisted of six passive Procella P8s . This allowed Imagine This to reproduce full DTS-HD sound . In order to deal with MSV ( mean spatial variants ), wave collisions , standing waves and nuls , two Procella P18 high output subwoofers were installed into the baffle wall . Amplification and processing comes from Anthem , providing DTS-HD and all relevant HD formats .
“ We knew that we were going to be well within the ballpark and that we were going to deliver a room that not only met his expectations , but also in many ways exceeded them . And believe me when I say this , the performance objectives that were set out to me for this project , I have never encountered before or since .”
Why No Immersive Audio ?
At the time of install , ‘ immersive audio ’ was in its infancy and as such the home theatre does not cater for this – although that ’ s not to say that it won ’ t be able to if required .
“ We looked into it , we knew what was coming ,” Guy reflects . “ There were some decoders available , but we didn ’ t want to go down that route at that point . Don ’ t forget this was 2009 / 10 when these conversations started happening , so all of these things were in their infancy , if
Image courtesy of Imagine This ( UK ) Ltd not in the conception stages – even at a commercial level . We ’ d spoken to people at other postproduction facilities and we knew what was required as far as the performance objectives went , so we made sure that our cabling covered as many of those aspects as we could .
“ We have the ability to add Atmos , Auro 3D and DTS : X up to 9.1.4 – it ’ s just a case of looking at an updated processor with the relevant codec cards and then getting the go-ahead from the client . Had this been the client ’ s main residence it would have been our primary focus , but when you ’ re here two weeks a year , it ’ s hard to get them enthusiastic to invest in more !”
Projection Screen And Projector
An immense 260in screen was specially constructed by Screen Research for this project , which , as Guy points out “ at 7m long , is fairly sizeable !”
Guy explains : “ We selected an ISF and THX approved acoustically transparent fabric , a 2.40:1 aspect ratio and vertical motorised masking ,” Guy reels off like it was yesterday . “ We used this , in conjunction with the intelligent lens system and digital crop files on the projector and saved a variety of pre-sets , so that our client could enjoy content in a diversity of aspects : 2.40:1 , 1.78:1 and 1.33:1 .”
A 12,000 lumens Christie projector complements the large screen . This had the ability to be upgraded with new technology via an IMB module and 3D , via external 3D processing units . To meet industry standards , the lamps were defocused to approximately 60 %.
“ At that point in time ( that certainly isn ’ t the case now ), the input media was one of the only HFR IMB modules available at that level .”
With the client not living in the country , Guy is still in regular correspondence to this day for all-things maintenance .
“ They put a lot of trust in you and you spend a lot of their money ; you ’ ve really got to make sure that you can communicate the process as easily as you can . Being given this amount of responsibility was enormously worrying , if I ’ m honest ! You feel a huge sense of loyalty , gratitude and pride . The overriding factor is that you don ’ t want to let anybody down – you know it ’ s got to be good .”
And good it is , even if Guy does say so himself . Even now when he goes back to the site , he still ( quietly ) marvels at the results . “ And I ’ ve seen a lot of theatres . I go in there and it still feels special to me .”
EI has to ask : what did the client say once the project was completed ? Guy grins ; “ He said ‘ look , I have cinemas in homes all over the world . I have some of the best post production facilities available at my disposal , but this is the best one I have .’ Maybe that ’ s all I needed really !
“ I do look back and have to almost pinch myself ,” he says , shaking his head in disbelief . “ I’ m very humbled . Not to say that we fell into it by accident , we worked very hard on this . If you ’ re going to learn your craft and your trade , it doesn ’ t get any better than this . I ’ m looking for another one of those jobs ; it hasn ’ t come up just yet !”
More Information : Imagine This , 0207 164 6856 , www . imaginethis . uk . com
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